Search

Monday, 10 March 2014

Hedgehog Cuddle Blanket

This is the 'pink' project I've been working on recently. It's a big deal to me and hopefully it will be loved by the little person cuddled up in it.

As you can see, it's a reversible blanket in chunky baby wool. The brief was that it had to be big enough to wrap around a baby and I think it will fit just right.

If you're wondering where this idea came from, it started a few weeks back when I thought I would drop into SCBU (Special Care Baby Unit) at our local hospital. I'm not really prone to this type of uninvited visit, but I wondered if they needed any more knitted items. Our knitting group supplied them eighteen months ago with blankets, mittens, booties, hats and burial gowns via 'The Little Love Project.' In fact, we made so many items that I was almost sure they were pretty well stocked, but I thought I would check all the same.

The next bit didn't really go to plan... I couldn't find SCBU! I've only been there once or twice to drop off items and that was eighteen months ago, plus I get all self conscious when I have to speak into intercoms, so I ploughed on into the first ward entrance that I came across and that just happened to be Hedgehog Children's Ward.

After explaining why I was crashing into their ward I was directed to a group of nurses (not sure of our collective noun) and asked them what they needed. They immediately said, 'blankets,' then 'hats' and 'mittens' and 'booties!' They explained that they have babies of all sizes there and quite often need blankets for holding/cuddling, mittens and booties to cover IV lines and hats just to keep them snuggly.

Oh, sweet music to my ears!

After some discussion about colours, size of garments, etc. I walked out with a list of VITAL needs and some lovely ideas knocking around in my woolly brain. As blankets were first on the list I wondered if it would be possible to come up with a design just for Hedgehog Ward. I also wondered if I could create a pattern that every knitter would be able to master (and enjoy) despite their level of skill? The latter was really important as our knitting group, 'The Purls,' have some very new knitters and some VERY capable knitters .

For the next couple of weeks all I thought about were blankets, hearts and hedgehogs. I spent most of my lunch hours and evenings trawling through woolly websites for the right colours and yarns. I started off with all sorts of elaborate designs but had to rein it in as this blanket had to be suitable for every skill level. Being very much the novice, I tried to get up to speed on pattern design and writing, plus the most important thing of all...how big should a blanket be if you need to wrap a baby in it!!! As I didn't have a baby to hand, I pretty much guessed it against the size of a friend's Norfolk terrier... I'm sure I'll find out later if this is a hideous mistake.

Despite my lengthy internet-trawling I ended up choosing wool from our local craft shop (did I mention they had a sale on?). This lovey chunky baby yarn was just perfect and not too expensive. I was really trying to stay away from pink and blue but the other colours available in this wool just didn't inspire me - too pale - and I wanted this blanket to be strong and definite. You'll see several colour variations in my photos, all to do with complicated stuff like light. I will crack this particular skill sometime soon...sometime! In case you're wondering, the closest to the real colour is the small hedgehog block.

My initial calculations didn't take very long to jot down and looked good on paper, but that's firmly where they stayed. In figures I'd created something square rather than rectangular and I had to improvise as I was knitting.

I'm already aware that the creations in my imagination are very different from the finished products. There are 'items' that I haven't yet put on this blog due to shame...for example the wool dispenser that looked like a loo-roll holder and a mandala that had sides like a vase. But you can't really go wrong with a blanket, can you? Well, it turns out you can. Several times!

My next learning curve was that this blanket needed to look good from the front and from the back, so, several pattern options were immediately ditched leaving me unsure as to what I should do next.

The most hopeful of my attempts was a large heart in the centre of the blanket. The free pattern that I found looked nice, easy to knit and there was a chart. But for some reason it didn't look right on the blanket. The heart came out as a sort of lozenge shape and not curvy enough for me.

So, it was unravelled and I started again, this time choosing a simpler heart pattern...

I made these hearts up as I went along; as you can see they definitely needed refinement. I did this later using reverse stocking stitch which gave better definition to the shape of the hearts.

I then got to thinking about the more experienced knitters. This is an easy blanket and they may find it a tad boring (although it's great project to knit when you're watching TV). So I wondered if there were any free hedgehog designs out there to keep them entertained, and lo and behold! I found a brilliant free chart on Ravelry. I would, of course, credit the person who designed this hedgehog but I just can't find them. The pattern's been used for so many projects that I'm not sure who it belongs to - if I can track them down I will mention them because it's a lovely design.

As I did't have enough wool to start the blanket again, I made a panel to test out the pattern. When you knit this little creature your brain will tell you it looks nothing like a hedgehog, it will tell you that you've gone wrong and knitted a bunch of random patternless stitches. But at the end, you hold out your creation at arms' length and the result is MARVELLOUS!

Despite not having any chunky wool for the hedgehog I pressed on regardless. The tension is a bit pants because I used aran weight wool, but I think it looks OK.

...I hope you like it too! I also hope you enjoy making your version. If you do, please send me a photo so that I can add them to ToadRockStreet.

Just out of interest, the whole process of creating this blanket has taught me so much, even though I thought it would be a doddle! If you're so inclined and haven't done so already, have a go at creating your own pattern. I can promise you it will be an experience!

THE PATTERNS: * * * * * * * *

I have three patterns for the Hedgehog Cuddle Blanket.

The basic blanket with no pattern in the middle.

Two hearts (one large, one small)

Hedgehog

The patterns are under 'Pages' on the left hand column, with easy instructions and photos for beginners.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

I'm going to add the patterns to Ravelry as well and if you fancy it please consider joining our group, 'A Little Love...from The Purls.' We'll be able to give you all the support you need if you're making items for babies in hospital.

Our knitting group will be starting to make blankets for Hedgehog Ward at Pembury Hospital (Tunbridge Wells) in the next week or so.

If you would like to make a blanket for Pembury please let me know and I will send you the postal details. If you live too far away or you're not able to post items but want to be involved then please consider knitting for your own local hospital, or just for your own loved ones.

Whatever you do, I hope you enjoy making your own Hedgehog Cuddle Blanket.

Comments

You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.

Really lovely, well done you.
As soon as I get back to work and can get some wool I will start one (though it may be hard to believe, I don't actually have 3 balls of any one colour of chunky at home!)

Tajana - of course you can! I would love for you to make this blanket so please go ahead. I love the idea of sharing our designs and the thought my blanket will be made in Italy is such a lovely thought.
All I would ask is that you mention my blog so that people will know about Hedgehog Ward at our hospital.
XXX

What a pretty blanket; I love it! You did a wonderful job. I don't know how to knit, but hope to learn someday. I've been crocheting for about a year and love reading crocheting and knitting blogs. I enjoyed reading this post very much.

Aw, thanks Lisa! I'm so pleased that you like the blanket - and that you enjoyed the post. If you do start knitting, this is a good project to start with once you feel confident with your stitches. Thanks for visiting and do come back!
Denise
x